,Liberty University PSYC 320 Quiz 9 | Behavior
Modification (2026) Q&A
1. A stimulus is best defined as:
A) Any person, object, or event in one's immediate surroundings that impinges on one's sense
receptors and can affect behavior
B) A consequence that follows a behavior
C) A type of reinforcement schedule
D) An internal thought or feeling
Correct Answer: Any person, object, or event in one's immediate surroundings that impinges
on one's sense receptors and can affect behavior
Rationale: A stimulus is any environmental event—such as a person, object, or situation—
that can affect behavior through the senses. Internal thoughts are not considered stimuli in
behavior analysis; they are private events. Consequences and reinforcement schedules are
different concepts.
2. An ABC assessment involves identifying:
A) Antecedents, behaviors, and consequences
B) Actions, beliefs, and cognitions
C) Antecedents, beliefs, and consequences
D) Assessments, baselines, and controls
Correct Answer: Antecedents, behaviors, and consequences
Rationale: The ABC assessment is a functional assessment tool that identifies the
antecedents (what happens before the behavior), the behavior itself, and the consequences
(what happens after the behavior). This information helps determine the function of the
behavior and guides intervention.
,3. Stimulus control is defined as:
A) The degree of correlation between the occurrence of a particular antecedent stimulus and
the occurrence of a subsequent response
B) The suppression of behavior by punishment
C) The elimination of behavior by extinction
D) The generalization of behavior to all stimuli
Correct Answer: The degree of correlation between the occurrence of a particular antecedent
stimulus and the occurrence of a subsequent response
Rationale: Stimulus control refers to the extent to which a behavior is reliably evoked by a
specific antecedent stimulus. When a behavior occurs consistently in the presence of a
particular stimulus and not in its absence, stimulus control has been established.
4. Good stimulus control means that:
A) A strong correlation exists between the occurrence of a particular stimulus and a particular
response
B) The behavior occurs randomly
C) The behavior occurs only in the absence of the stimulus
D) Punishment is consistently applied
Correct Answer: A strong correlation exists between the occurrence of a particular stimulus
and a particular response
Rationale: Good stimulus control is demonstrated when the behavior reliably occurs in the
presence of the discriminative stimulus (SD) and does not occur in its absence. The stronger
the correlation between the SD and the response, the better the stimulus control.
5. A discriminative stimulus (SD) is:
A) A stimulus in the presence of which a response will be reinforced
B) A stimulus in the presence of which a response will not be reinforced
C) A consequence that follows behavior
, D) A type of punishment
Correct Answer: A stimulus in the presence of which a response will be reinforced
Rationale: An SD signals that reinforcement is available for a particular response. It sets the
occasion for the behavior because it has been correlated with reinforcement in the past. An S-
delta, in contrast, signals that reinforcement is not available.
6. An S-delta (S^Δ) is:
A) A cue that a particular response will not be reinforced
B) A cue that a particular response will be reinforced
C) A type of conditioned reinforcer
D) A schedule of reinforcement
Correct Answer: A cue that a particular response will not be reinforced
Rationale: An S-delta is a stimulus in the presence of which a particular response has not
been reinforced in the past. It signals that the response will not pay off, so the individual
learns not to emit the behavior in its presence.
7. The difference between a general stimulus and a discriminative stimulus is that:
A) A stimulus is any event that affects behavior, while a discriminative stimulus specifically
evokes a behavior that will be reinforced
B) A discriminative stimulus is any event that affects behavior, while a general stimulus
specifically evokes a behavior
C) They are the same thing
D) A discriminative stimulus is always a punisher
Correct Answer: A stimulus is any event that affects behavior, while a discriminative
stimulus specifically evokes a behavior that will be reinforced
Modification (2026) Q&A
1. A stimulus is best defined as:
A) Any person, object, or event in one's immediate surroundings that impinges on one's sense
receptors and can affect behavior
B) A consequence that follows a behavior
C) A type of reinforcement schedule
D) An internal thought or feeling
Correct Answer: Any person, object, or event in one's immediate surroundings that impinges
on one's sense receptors and can affect behavior
Rationale: A stimulus is any environmental event—such as a person, object, or situation—
that can affect behavior through the senses. Internal thoughts are not considered stimuli in
behavior analysis; they are private events. Consequences and reinforcement schedules are
different concepts.
2. An ABC assessment involves identifying:
A) Antecedents, behaviors, and consequences
B) Actions, beliefs, and cognitions
C) Antecedents, beliefs, and consequences
D) Assessments, baselines, and controls
Correct Answer: Antecedents, behaviors, and consequences
Rationale: The ABC assessment is a functional assessment tool that identifies the
antecedents (what happens before the behavior), the behavior itself, and the consequences
(what happens after the behavior). This information helps determine the function of the
behavior and guides intervention.
,3. Stimulus control is defined as:
A) The degree of correlation between the occurrence of a particular antecedent stimulus and
the occurrence of a subsequent response
B) The suppression of behavior by punishment
C) The elimination of behavior by extinction
D) The generalization of behavior to all stimuli
Correct Answer: The degree of correlation between the occurrence of a particular antecedent
stimulus and the occurrence of a subsequent response
Rationale: Stimulus control refers to the extent to which a behavior is reliably evoked by a
specific antecedent stimulus. When a behavior occurs consistently in the presence of a
particular stimulus and not in its absence, stimulus control has been established.
4. Good stimulus control means that:
A) A strong correlation exists between the occurrence of a particular stimulus and a particular
response
B) The behavior occurs randomly
C) The behavior occurs only in the absence of the stimulus
D) Punishment is consistently applied
Correct Answer: A strong correlation exists between the occurrence of a particular stimulus
and a particular response
Rationale: Good stimulus control is demonstrated when the behavior reliably occurs in the
presence of the discriminative stimulus (SD) and does not occur in its absence. The stronger
the correlation between the SD and the response, the better the stimulus control.
5. A discriminative stimulus (SD) is:
A) A stimulus in the presence of which a response will be reinforced
B) A stimulus in the presence of which a response will not be reinforced
C) A consequence that follows behavior
, D) A type of punishment
Correct Answer: A stimulus in the presence of which a response will be reinforced
Rationale: An SD signals that reinforcement is available for a particular response. It sets the
occasion for the behavior because it has been correlated with reinforcement in the past. An S-
delta, in contrast, signals that reinforcement is not available.
6. An S-delta (S^Δ) is:
A) A cue that a particular response will not be reinforced
B) A cue that a particular response will be reinforced
C) A type of conditioned reinforcer
D) A schedule of reinforcement
Correct Answer: A cue that a particular response will not be reinforced
Rationale: An S-delta is a stimulus in the presence of which a particular response has not
been reinforced in the past. It signals that the response will not pay off, so the individual
learns not to emit the behavior in its presence.
7. The difference between a general stimulus and a discriminative stimulus is that:
A) A stimulus is any event that affects behavior, while a discriminative stimulus specifically
evokes a behavior that will be reinforced
B) A discriminative stimulus is any event that affects behavior, while a general stimulus
specifically evokes a behavior
C) They are the same thing
D) A discriminative stimulus is always a punisher
Correct Answer: A stimulus is any event that affects behavior, while a discriminative
stimulus specifically evokes a behavior that will be reinforced
